Roy Jurgens on December 21st, 2019

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We get an avalanche of video submissions at Buzz Bands LA, so at year’s end, it does become a bit of a herculean task to go through them and pick out the highlights. Take some time and peruse the brilliance of our best of 2019, from a local scene that not only produces excellent music, but also conjures up outstanding visuals in accompaniment, often created with the most miniscule of budgets, but with a maximum of imagination. Think of this collection of our Top 40 of 2019 not as a competition, but as a virtual art gallery you were fortunate enough to happen upon.

Moses Sumney – Virile 

A star in the making. Sumney’s only “sin” thus far is that he hasn’t written something mindlessly confectionary to appease the masses. Instead, as he shows in his directorial debut, he’s taken a higher road towards fine artistry, creating something not only entrancing, but provocative and intense.

Alex Ebert – Stronger

Alex Ebert once again proving that he’s almost impossible to pigeonhole.

TV Heads – Ribbons

Nothing cleanses the soul like a good kidnapping.

Madame Gandhi – Top Knot Turn Up

Madame Gandhi got her hair did and done changed the world.

Nahneen Kula – Won’t Know Yet

The rainforests of Borneo are the setting for this lush little ditty.

Brendan Eder – East Pasadena

An eight-minute exploration of jogging, house plant theft and dendrophilia.

Chelsea Wolfe – Deranged For Rock & Roll

Where Ms. Wolfe straps on an acoustic, wanders Route 66 and asks the existential question whether her music is her calling, or her calling is music.

Active Child – All Eyes on You

White boy Philly soul at its futuristic finest, Pat Grossi’s soothing falsetto sets a soundtrack for a late night of city lights.

Mondo Cozmo – Black Cadillac

It was bound to happen, a video of a phone that you can watch on your phone. Luckily, it’s a groovy banger in which Josh Ostrander channels Dylan and the Velvets. 

Kenan Bell – Hi

Most refreshing of all, this hip-hop video goes the playful route, focusing on creative edits wrapped around his insightful flow. 

Starcrawler – Bet My Brains

Things get messy as Arrow de Wilde and her cohorts do all they can to corrupt a backyard tea party full of seniors and finger sandwiches.

Devendra Banhart – ‘‘Kantori Ongaku’

“Kantori Ongaku” is an arty homage to experimental pop icon Haruomi Hosono of the Yellow Magic Orchestra, thusly reflecting the impressive breadth of Banhart’s creative palate. And yes, it’s delightfully weird. 

TRISHES – Language

Given that we are presently putting children in cages, Trish Hosein’s stirring paean to refugees is perhaps the most poignant video of the year. 

ZOOLUXX – How Far

Who among us doesn’t love a funky chase scene through downtown L.A.?

Rainstorm Brother – Fire You Light

We live in a world where the constant stream of antagonism can make you feel lost and alone, no matter your station. Just as long as you make it to the shore.

CAPYAC & Annabelle Maginnis – Little Toes

This is why you go to art school. That’s a compliment.

BONES UK – Pretty Waste

Nothing more than a simple collection of jagged silhouettes that cut as razor sharp as Carmen Vandenburg’s riffs. And nothing less.

Jessi Williams & Coyote – Roam, Little Gypsy, Roam

A woman’s journey is fraught with equitable decisions and delayed, sometimes lost ambitions.

Bedouine – Echo Park

Azniv Korkejian’s love letter to an idyllic Echo Park, being made more and more unaffordable to artists like her by the day.

Piel – Gift of Matter

Occasionally a video matches the glorious expanse of the song in question. This is one of those occasions.

French Vanilla – All the Time

A honking sax, ’80s vibe, chonky basslines and hipster cred make this a worthwhile view.

Flying Lotus – Fire Is Coming (feat. David Lynch)

Watching this weirdo spectacle on a massive stage backdrop at Desert Daze was most enthralling and ominous. Oh, and David Lynch is in it.

ANIIML – Ouch!

In planting hearts and watering them with tears, our protagonist learns to nurture self love.

Local Natives – Tap Dancer

A powerful example of how much you can do with one shot if you have an artist that is hypnotic enough to hold your gaze.

Royaljag – 909

Who knew that New Jack Swing was alive and well in the 909? Buzz Bands LA knew, that’s who.

Conscious Trap – Westside

West of the 405 is a no-go zone. This video will tell you why.

Kevin Morby – No Halo

Should you be looking for your inner God, here is a pretty decent roadmap on how to get there, and what pit stops to avoid.

Potty Mouth – Starry Eyes

This video contains some of our fave things: power-pop, girl power and heavy petting.

Kat Leon – This Is How the World Ends

The Holy Wars singer detached herself from her usual fare to explore the grand orchestrations of the natural world.

Butch Bastard – I Am Not a Man

A short film in which the album is the score. A brilliant twist, turning an art form inside out while maximizing its potential.

Nick Waterhouse – Wreck the Rod

Waterhouse employed the fine talents of Danny Trejo for this look back into the late night talk show TV culture of the ’70s.

Jen Awad – On the Low

Our local queen takes a classic turn at old school film noire, all the way back to 1946, to be specific.

Weyes Blood – Everyday

That tried and true tale of a cabin in the mountains, friends out for the weekend, a lilting pop song and murder.

Andy Clockwise – Money Power Sex & Fame

One of L.A.’s favorite Aussie transplants “celebrates” the Mount Rushmore of Los Angeles in this VHS-flavored clip.

LMNOP – First Time

I’ve seen a lot of things. I’ve never seen a puppet have an orgasm.

ASHRR – Made Up Your Mind

It doesn’t much get grittier than this, or bleaker, or more honest, in regards to the acidic consequences of social media.

Saro – Please

Watching me, watching you, watching me, watching you …

Turtles on Speed – High With You

A charming stoner anthem for the present-day players of hooky.

Low Hum – Strange Love

An animated video in which we learn that finding that your missing puzzle piece is the panacea to whatever is torturing your id. 

FIDLAR – By Myself

I mean, why not film yourself having a drink and Face-Timing all your pals … after all, Fuck It Dog, Life’s a Risk.

Thanks for popping this one open.